ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – At least 60,000 members of the Shiite militia groups known collectively as the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, are ready to fight alongside Iraqi security forces to expel the Islamic State from Anbar and Mosul provinces, the group’s spokesman said.

“The Hashd al-Shaabi have become a strong and influential force to protect all Iraqi provinces against Daesh [Arabic acronym for ISIS],” Karim Nouri, Hashd al-Shaabi spokesman, announced Saturday.

“To liberate any specific place from the militants, the cooperation and participation of Hashd al-Shaabi is needed. Meanwhile, we are waiting for decisions from the commander of the military forces about whether we will participate in the current war in Anbar or the upcoming Mosul assault,” Nouri added.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced last week the Shiite militias will not take part in the battle for Mosul. Elements of the Hashd al-Shaabi have been recently accused of rights violations, including the looting of people’s homes and business.

Iraqi joint forces last week moved their anti-ISIS campaign to Anbar province after a victory in Tikrit with air support from the US-led coalition.

Iraqi security forces, local police, Iraqi federal police, anti-terror forces and at least 10,000 tribal gunmen are engaged in the fight against ISIS in Sunni-dominated province of Anbar.

Rudaw